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I agree with MrsCB and Foxysocks above.The question is 'why' would we wish to look wealthier? I do like nice things though, that can't be denied! But I am somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of showing off wealth, even if I don't possess it. I am a little bit afraid of looking desperate, I think, because as someone noted earlier in the thread many genuinely wealthy folks tend to not give two shits. And there's no real prescribed uniform, is there? Surely the things we lust after now are still driven by some sort of 'trend', and I definitely think that the 'wealthy' look is a current favourite, esp in the land of tumblr and pinterest, most likely accelerated by the likes of Emmanuelle Alt, etc.

I am surprised by how many very young girls covet Chanel, Celine, etc. In the 90's when I was a teen/early 20's we loathed the posh look and would never have dreamed of trying to emulate a royal! I think that the media, driven by the internet has brought awareness of extremely wealthy well dressed people to the masses unlike never before, and young girls are now bombarded with so much imagery of luxury goods....

MrsCB, I love the blouse! I really like her colour palette this season - the raspberry tones and purples and those swirly, marbled patterns. Not really something I can afford to indulge in generally, but glad I purchased this.

The Zara sandals are still available aren't they? I usually ponder over things until they're sold out....story of my life!

Toasted your comment about the genuine wealthy not giving 2 shits reminded me of an old male friend. He's from a very wealthy family, was privately educated etc.. Whenever we went down the pub, the rest of us would make a bit of an effort but he would turn up in faded old jeans, deck shoes, an old stripe shirt and a posh watch. I don't think he possessed a hairbrush. The notion of looking wealthy would not even be on his radar. But he simply is and does look genuinely wealthy.

I'm at an age now where I actually want to look 'chic and elegant'. Never thought it would happen as I've always had a slightly eclectic (or scruffy, in my case) look. But I've now entered my 50's and although some of my contemporaries can still carry off a boho or eclectic look extremely well, it's not working for me. Making changes to my wardrobe to bring in some classic pieces, but they are actually quite hard to find. The challenge for me is how to do without looking bland and boring.

Agree, if looking expensive is swishing around in camel coats and cream silk shirts then that ain't for me. A. I'd look hideous because those colours really bring out the touch of jaundice in me and B. how boring?!

I think those things are only boring on the wrong person. I have one friend who has a fantastic hobo style - deep red hair, plenty of bright lipstick, vintage clothes, unusual hats. Put her in a camel trouser suit and natural make up and all her natural sparkle and vibrancy would be gone and she would look dull. I have another friend who has classic English rose colouring with wavy blonde hair and dresses in jeans/wide leg trousers, neutral tops and maybe a scarf. Her way of dressing looks fabulous, drawing attention to her glowing skin, piercing blue-grey eyes, and stunning cheekbones. Dress her in the boho look my other friend wears, and she looks tacky, like someone in fancy dress. It's all about dressing to suit your own face, body and personality.

i think what amber mentioned is the most boring degree of wealthy.camel coats+cream blouses = park avenue princess.its very discreet but too boring and bland.im not british,but i really admire and love the way young british women dress,they have a distinctive style.it can be very chic and safe except for a tattered and beaten up pair of boots or leather jacket,or a scarf in a really crazy print.

I look terrible in 'classic' clothes. I look far better just dressing a bit goth/rock chick. It just seems to work for me. Looking 'wealthy' can be very deceptive, some people look a million dollars dressed in Primark head to toe. As long as people like what they are wearing, I don't think it matters what anyone else thinks.

I love my wedge trainers, i don't care if they make me look like a common floozy!

Also, those Charlotte Olympia kitty flats bother the hell out of me. Really not worth the cost for a gimmick, and I can't say they look terribly durable either. I always wonder who would buy this crap just because it's high end. And then i see bloggers traipsing around in them......and weep.

This has been said about me, much to my amusement. Ive known people barge past other people at parties in order to speak to me, assuming Im rich, then watching their face fall as they realise Im common, know nobody and grew up in a semi in the midlands My old hairdresser said that she assumed I had servants or staff when she first met me I dont wear designer clothes so thats not it and Im not thin. I dont wear jewellery or a posh watch either (cheap Fossil jobby) and I have a regional accent.I find that the proper posh/rich just have a certain deportment that sets them apart from the rest of us. Theyd look good in a hessian blanket. Carolyn Bassette Kennedy springs to mind.

I've been thinking about this (as how to look well put together, rather than "wealthy") and I have some ideas.

I have one colleague who always looks lovely, but she shops almost exclusively in places like H&M, Next (we have jokes about her wearing polyester), Primark etc. She's VERY careful about being coordinated, and very good at it. So if she wears say, a plain black dress with a floral printed scarf, her nails and shoes will match the pink in the scarf etc. etc. She's also very good at picking out stuff which looks more expensive than it is. The other day she was wearing these gorgeous, antique-y filigree earrings, so we asked where they were from "oh, some small shop somewhere. They cost £2". I would NEVER have thought that. And, she also does the things listed here: - hair is always neatly done (e.g. today in a high bun)- make up neat and discrete (just some foundation to even out skin tone, a bit of blush, slick of eyeliner - it's not surprising she's obsessed with Bobby Brown stuff)